EP 260 Looks great on paper

Today Gary tries 4 wines that look great on paper. Let’s see if they deliver.

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Allan Scott Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
2005 Defaix Chablis Cote De LechetChablis
2005 Ercavio Roble La ManchaOther Spanish Red Wine
2003 Pikes Shiraz EastsideAustralian Shiraz/Syrah

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Flecko

I had the Ercavio Tempranillo a month ago and cannot agree with Gary. It has a awful artificial smell like somebody dropped rose parfume in it. It is very smooth to drink, too smooth for my taste. My first impression of this wine was not so bad, but I couldn’t drink more than one glas because the smell began to disgust me. In my opinion it is far from 90 Points. If you like to drink rose-water then I would give it 84P.

Tags: Australian, Chablis, New Zealand, red wines, review, sauvignon blanc, shiraz, Video

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  • Kraemer

    I love the Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc and i’m glad that you reviewed this vintage. The last I tried of it was the 04,

    I remember having a very very long night a few years back, then having to go to work the next day. A guest ordered a bottle of the Allan Scott (which I had not seen nor tried prior to this), I presented it to the table and started to cut the foil as I would a regular corked bottle. I did this for a solid 20 seconds before I realized it was a screw cap. Talk about embarassing.

  • Kraemer

    I love the Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc and i’m glad that you reviewed this vintage. The last I tried of it was the 04,

    I remember having a very very long night a few years back, then having to go to work the next day. A guest ordered a bottle of the Allan Scott (which I had not seen nor tried prior to this), I presented it to the table and started to cut the foil as I would a regular corked bottle. I did this for a solid 20 seconds before I realized it was a screw cap. Talk about embarassing.

  • mas

    Will have to seek out the Ercavio. That review was a surprise – worth taking a flyer on.

    QOTD: Day old Sushi …. (just kidding)

  • mas

    Will have to seek out the Ercavio. That review was a surprise – worth taking a flyer on.

    QOTD: Day old Sushi …. (just kidding)

  • Bossman

    QOTD: I have to agree witn Winodondist, my last hire seemingly had all the right stuff, say all the right things, had a resume tailor made for the position, talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk. Interviews are so subjective.

  • Bossman

    QOTD: I have to agree witn Winodondist, my last hire seemingly had all the right stuff, say all the right things, had a resume tailor made for the position, talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk. Interviews are so subjective.

  • ChadD.

    Hey 2 out of 4 ain’t bad! Gotta get some Ercavio Roble. QOTD: at work everyday!! I work with numbers.

  • ChadD.

    Hey 2 out of 4 ain’t bad! Gotta get some Ercavio Roble. QOTD: at work everyday!! I work with numbers.

  • ChadD.

    Hey Gary, I’ll send you a myspace add request. I use my online alias of “chuckwilson”. This is the ONLY blog/website where I use my real name. Just thought I would throw that in so you’re not like “who the hell is chuckwilson”.

  • ChadD.

    Hey Gary, I’ll send you a myspace add request. I use my online alias of “chuckwilson”. This is the ONLY blog/website where I use my real name. Just thought I would throw that in so you’re not like “who the hell is chuckwilson”.

  • portman

    Good ep. I’ve been looking for decent Spanish wines. Now I have a good recommendation on one.

    QOTD: a great business opportunity about ten years ago. Lost about two grand. Am I smarter now?

  • portman

    Good ep. I’ve been looking for decent Spanish wines. Now I have a good recommendation on one.

    QOTD: a great business opportunity about ten years ago. Lost about two grand. Am I smarter now?

  • Dave Canada

    Great idea for an episode!
    QOTD – London School of Economics. I got accepted there to do my Masters degree and the program was totally different in reality when I arrived. A realy mind bender for me.

  • Dave Canada

    Great idea for an episode!
    QOTD – London School of Economics. I got accepted there to do my Masters degree and the program was totally different in reality when I arrived. A realy mind bender for me.

  • cgf

    QOTD: A-Rod.

  • cgf

    QOTD: A-Rod.

  • HEY GV

    Nice EP, I have to see if my local shop has the Ercavio. ANd I have add Allan Scott a couple of times and haven’t been disappointed yet.

    QOTD: I can’t really recall a time that I was disappointed by something that looked good on paper. I guess that is a good thing. 🙂

    J DUB

  • HEY GV

    Nice EP, I have to see if my local shop has the Ercavio. ANd I have add Allan Scott a couple of times and haven’t been disappointed yet.

    QOTD: I can’t really recall a time that I was disappointed by something that looked good on paper. I guess that is a good thing. 🙂

    J DUB

  • Susan

    Gary-Glad to be right about one thing in life! When you were first talking to the ‘peanut gallery’ I wondered if that was AJ.It was AJ!Great Ep!
    :):)

  • Susan

    Gary-Glad to be right about one thing in life! When you were first talking to the ‘peanut gallery’ I wondered if that was AJ.It was AJ!Great Ep!
    :):)

  • stevo

    Had the Ercavio a month ago. Paid around $13 for it. Didn’t like it at all. Down the drain it went.

    QOTD: My wife and I have been looking for a home recently and there have been many that look great on paper, only to pull up to the house and see power lines next door. Got right back into the car. The equivalent of right down the drain.

  • stevo

    Had the Ercavio a month ago. Paid around $13 for it. Didn’t like it at all. Down the drain it went.

    QOTD: My wife and I have been looking for a home recently and there have been many that look great on paper, only to pull up to the house and see power lines next door. Got right back into the car. The equivalent of right down the drain.

  • SacramentoCharlie

    Good Episode GV…The viewers ask for value wine episodes and you deliver want the fans want…That is great customer service.

    QOTD: Something that appeared better on paper than the real deal ??? Well, that pic in your Spectator AD this month looks possibly photoshopped. 😉

    Seriously, let’s go with Las Vegas. Seems like a great place to visit on paper….

  • Good Episode GV…The viewers ask for value wine episodes and you deliver want the fans want…That is great customer service.

    QOTD: Something that appeared better on paper than the real deal ??? Well, that pic in your Spectator AD this month looks possibly photoshopped. 😉

    Seriously, let’s go with Las Vegas. Seems like a great place to visit on paper….

  • Madrone

    QOTD: My first car which lasted about 50 miles.

    Hey Gary, nice ad in the recent Wine Spectator. You look so nice an clean! I prefer the look after twelve episodes filmed in one day.

    I haven’t looked back but have you ever critiqued the concept of scoring? Like scoring a painting or a sunset or my wife, it sometimes seems a little absurd. So the whole “looks good on paper” falls apart if you look too close. Sometimes something is just good (or bad) because it is or maybe because of the context. One of the best wines I ever had was a junk viognier but the context (people, place, and food) was so good that I think it is literally the best thing I have ever put in my mouth. I’m sure if I had it now: ho hum.

  • Madrone

    QOTD: My first car which lasted about 50 miles.

    Hey Gary, nice ad in the recent Wine Spectator. You look so nice an clean! I prefer the look after twelve episodes filmed in one day.

    I haven’t looked back but have you ever critiqued the concept of scoring? Like scoring a painting or a sunset or my wife, it sometimes seems a little absurd. So the whole “looks good on paper” falls apart if you look too close. Sometimes something is just good (or bad) because it is or maybe because of the context. One of the best wines I ever had was a junk viognier but the context (people, place, and food) was so good that I think it is literally the best thing I have ever put in my mouth. I’m sure if I had it now: ho hum.

  • Herm

    I really enjoyed the episode….the sauvignon blanc looks like a winner as well as the ercavio….QoTD: Have you ever owned a boat?….that question is my answer….

  • Herm

    I really enjoyed the episode….the sauvignon blanc looks like a winner as well as the ercavio….QoTD: Have you ever owned a boat?….that question is my answer….

  • amgryger

    Good episode. While I never fell for the “Sideways Effect,” but I have been reading a lot of Hemingway lately and have found myself craving Spanish wines. Your description of the Ecravio reminded me a lot of the 2006 Luzon Verde I had the other night, which I picked up for 8 bones. Maybe I will seek this one out and compare the two, though I’d probably give the Luzon an 88.

    QOTD: The “Impact of Technology” Class I took with Prof. JL (not to give any full names) I took about two years ago. It was a new class with a great description in the course catalog and just generally horrible and depressing in practice.

  • amgryger

    Good episode. While I never fell for the “Sideways Effect,” but I have been reading a lot of Hemingway lately and have found myself craving Spanish wines. Your description of the Ecravio reminded me a lot of the 2006 Luzon Verde I had the other night, which I picked up for 8 bones. Maybe I will seek this one out and compare the two, though I’d probably give the Luzon an 88.

    QOTD: The “Impact of Technology” Class I took with Prof. JL (not to give any full names) I took about two years ago. It was a new class with a great description in the course catalog and just generally horrible and depressing in practice.

  • Tom (vtjones)

    QOTD: On paper those sea monkeys looked like they would be awesome!

  • Tom (vtjones)

    QOTD: On paper those sea monkeys looked like they would be awesome!

  • Tim H.

    Awesome episode. As a sports fan, you see this all the time (See Robbie Alomar with Mets, Edgar Renteria with the Red Sox). As for the wine, I had the Allan Scott a few months ago & completely agree- great QPR. Looking forward to trying the Ercavio.

    QOTD- Star Wars Episode 1- the trailer made it look great, but it was just awful.

  • Tim H.

    Awesome episode. As a sports fan, you see this all the time (See Robbie Alomar with Mets, Edgar Renteria with the Red Sox). As for the wine, I had the Allan Scott a few months ago & completely agree- great QPR. Looking forward to trying the Ercavio.

    QOTD- Star Wars Episode 1- the trailer made it look great, but it was just awful.

  • Alos Diallo

    I had that happen with one of the last girls I dated haha. Life I guess haha

  • Alos Diallo

    I had that happen with one of the last girls I dated haha. Life I guess haha

  • GeneV

    Nice episode.

    I described the 2004 Ercavio Roble as blackberry jam on a horse blanket draped over an oak twig. The fruit and the puckery tannins did not get to the 90 on my palate, but a dynamite buy for 8 bucks.

  • GeneV

    Nice episode.

    I described the 2004 Ercavio Roble as blackberry jam on a horse blanket draped over an oak twig. The fruit and the puckery tannins did not get to the 90 on my palate, but a dynamite buy for 8 bucks.

  • surf.sf

    Bought a 1989 Chateau Meyney from K&L wines to see what an old bordeaux tasted like. There wasn’t any fading and it didn’t excite me much!

  • surf.sf

    Bought a 1989 Chateau Meyney from K&L wines to see what an old bordeaux tasted like. There wasn’t any fading and it didn’t excite me much!

  • maggiej

    QOTD: The last hike I did with my husband and dog. On paper- lush and following a stream. Reality- the desert with a non-visible stream and a dog doing crzay dances and wining because he was burning his feet.

    I can’t wait to try the Ercavio.

  • maggiej

    QOTD: The last hike I did with my husband and dog. On paper- lush and following a stream. Reality- the desert with a non-visible stream and a dog doing crzay dances and wining because he was burning his feet.

    I can’t wait to try the Ercavio.

  • I believe it was a toucan on the box of fruit loops, not a pelican. Toucan Sam, if I remember correctly. (Who am I kidding, I see the commercials on Cartoon Network all the time.)

    Great show though, I’ve been watching for a couple weeks and I am officially not a lurker. I posted a comment. I love the show.

  • I believe it was a toucan on the box of fruit loops, not a pelican. Toucan Sam, if I remember correctly. (Who am I kidding, I see the commercials on Cartoon Network all the time.)

    Great show though, I’ve been watching for a couple weeks and I am officially not a lurker. I posted a comment. I love the show.

  • Grapedigger

    I think people now are hooked on finding wines scoring 90 pts and more. Leafing feverishly in WS or other reviews and just looking at the 90 pt mark wines..Screw the rest because it’s garbage!! What became silly is that a lot would dismiss an 89 pt wine, even if it has a good QPR, and jumb on the 90 right away. You tell me the margin of error between scoring 88, 89 or 90 pts, taking into considerations people’s different taste in wine!! Your episode today illustrates this beautifully and sends a message that people have different wine tastes, even if they are wine experts…

    QOTD, I got suckered once into buying some abdomine exercise machines (the six pack dream, right) that looked good on infomertials but sucked the big one in reality…

    Cheers,
    Grapedigger – Montreal

  • Grapedigger

    I think people now are hooked on finding wines scoring 90 pts and more. Leafing feverishly in WS or other reviews and just looking at the 90 pt mark wines..Screw the rest because it’s garbage!! What became silly is that a lot would dismiss an 89 pt wine, even if it has a good QPR, and jumb on the 90 right away. You tell me the margin of error between scoring 88, 89 or 90 pts, taking into considerations people’s different taste in wine!! Your episode today illustrates this beautifully and sends a message that people have different wine tastes, even if they are wine experts…

    QOTD, I got suckered once into buying some abdomine exercise machines (the six pack dream, right) that looked good on infomertials but sucked the big one in reality…

    Cheers,
    Grapedigger – Montreal

  • GottaGoDrink

    GeneV- Tend to agree. That’s why I’m laying down a case for a year or two. If the fruit goes into the tannins, gotta heck of a deal for $8. Cheers!

  • GottaGoDrink

    GeneV- Tend to agree. That’s why I’m laying down a case for a year or two. If the fruit goes into the tannins, gotta heck of a deal for $8. Cheers!

  • Robin

    QOTD: My last two Epson printers. The brief life span was not mentioned on paper. We’ll see how the Canon does.
    I’ll be looking for Ercavio.

  • Robin

    QOTD: My last two Epson printers. The brief life span was not mentioned on paper. We’ll see how the Canon does.
    I’ll be looking for Ercavio.

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